In Kapurthala, illegal travel agents make a killing

Illegal immigration agents across Nadala, Sultanpur Lodhi and other blocks of Kapurthala are making a killing, with each of them charging anywhere from Rs 40 lakh to 80 lakh for a trip abroad through the illegal “dunki route”.

According to local residents, their number has swelled over the years as those sent abroad by them through illegal pathways act as “commission agents” for them by recommending their name to fellow villagers.

Begowal resident Lovepreet Singh, a farmer and postgraduate in Punjabi, said in his area, 20 to 25 travel agents were active.

“Earlier, people used to visit cities and villages, with fewer travel agents. But now, such agents mushroom in every nook and corner,” he added.

Begowal’s Amanpreet Singh said, “In 2002, my uncle went to Spain and was charged Rs 7 lakh by travel agents Now, no one would charges less than Rs 35 to Rs 40 lakh.”

Commenting on the mushrooming of travel agents, Congress leader and former Sultanpur Lodhi legislator Navtej Singh Cheema said almost every village now has four to five agents.

“The lifestyle of NRIs, who took years to achieve prosperity, has lured youngsters, who try to make it to the foreign land immediately after completing Class 12. Anyone who succeeds in making it to the foreign land gets tons of queries. Many become commission agents this way,” he said.

A former sarpanch of Bholath subdivision’s Khassan village, NS Kang, said till 2010, a majority of youngsters in his area used to settle abroad through education route by securing scholarships.

“In early 2000s, travel agents charged about Rs 6 to 7 lakh for an illegal trip. People are now paying as high as Rs 60 lakh for it. They’re selling land and jewellery,” he said.

From Khassan, about 1,000 people have gone abroad.

“Meanwhile, Bholath’s Bagrian village sarpanch Charanjit Singh said around half of their village residents are settled abroad, with the number around 500 to 600. “There are some who went illegally. Six to seven people have even bagged the coveted US Green Card.”

Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira said, “People are paying an exorbitant fee even as countries like the US, Canada and Australia are closing their doors for immigrants. All countries are safeguarding their interests.”

“The youth are going abroad due to frustration and lack of opportunities,” he added.

He said Punjabi identity should also be protected by ensuring a legislation that ensures jobs in the state are reserved for only its domiciles. Khaira demanded that the state government should take forward the private member’s bill he had placed before the Assembly. The bill calls for restricting or banning the sale of the state’s agricultural land to non-Punjabis “to preserve Punjab’s identity and maintain its demographic balance”.